By this we know...

For several years now, we clear the dishes and Louis passes out the Bibles, and we read aloud around the table. A chapter each night, and tonight we finish I John.

At the kitchen sink I scrape food off plates and load the dishwasher. If there's a theme to I John, I mention to Louis, it seems to be by this we know, and he agrees.

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. ~ I John 2.3

but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him... ~ 1 John 2:5

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. ~ 1 John 3:16

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; ~ 1 John 3:19

Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. ~ 1 John 3:24

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. ~ 1 John 4:6

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. ~ 1 John 4:13

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. ~ 1 John 5:2

If I ever need reassurance about who I am and what I am to do, I know right where to look.

Related: It's Never Too Late

{Photos - random and totally unrelated}